Friends of Hillary launch new online network

By Mark Hanson

A gem has just landed in my inbox! A new social networking site devoted to keeping supporters of Hillary Clinton in touch with each other has just launched in the US.

NoLimits.org is headed by long-time senior Clinton aides Ann Lewis and Sarah Nolan. The group has solicited the members of HillaryClinton.com, Clinton’s presidential campaign e-mail list, to be part of “a new community dedicated to speaking up, sharing ideas and solving problems in our communities, our cities, our states and our world.”

The idea is to keep supporters ‘connected’ and pursue policy goals she has championed. “Our goal is to use social networking tools to enable people to stay in touch,” Lewis said. “This is about policy and working together to make a difference.” I thought they had just elected Barack Obama and they could use him to make a difference?

Hillary of course, as new Secretary of State, is bound by federal laws to restrict her political activity. There’s also the fact that her new boss, i.e. the President, might just wonder why Hillary needs to keep her supporters, the ones that wanted to stop him becoming President, need to stay in touch via their own network. What’s wrong with joining his?!

I’m told that things are being kept very low-key and Hillary is staying very distant from this. For now! Although, there is firm speculation that a lot of former Clinton staffers, those not employed by the new regime, will find a bolt hole in this.

We talk a lot about what we can learn from social media campaigns of US candidates but this is the best I’ve seen from a non-candidate who doesn’t actually have a campaign!